Site Purpose

Lia Steinberg studies broadcast journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. This website was created to share her experiences exploring the world of geocaching as a college student, and to provide helpful hints and tips on how to have a pleasant and fulfilling geocaching experience.

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Archive for October, 2010

Admit it: We’ve all searched for geocaches high and low and cannot seem to close the find. Finally, you zero in on the cache and say to yourself, “Why didn’t I look there in the first place?”

Don’t fret! There are some precautions you can take to to assure yourself that you are looking in the right location.

If possible, do not rely on only one GPS device. If you have two or three GPS-enabled devices, they will all give you a better estimate on where the geocache is hiding. Remember, GPS devices are more accurate when you are in motion (walking, bicycling, etc.). If you stand still and stare at the screen, you’ll find your compass jumping in different directions. Nowadays, many smart phone devices provide applications for geocaching, which can be helpful if your GPS is not cooperating.

Pretend you are the hider. If you were the cache owner, where would you hide it? Often times, you’d be surprised how obvious this might be. If you stop and look at the surrounding area, look for a clue that might be suspicious. This might be a pile of rocks, a small path of footprints, or a point of reference in a prominent area.

Communicate with previous finders. If you know you will be looking for a difficult cache, it might be beneficial to talk to geocachers who have already located the cache. They don’t have to spoil the fun, but they can provide some insightful hints to help you find it.

Still can’t find it?

If you were unable to locate the geocache, there is a possibility it may have disappeared. It is important to notify the owner on the cache website if you did not find the cache because it will help the owner decide if they need to go check on it and replace it if needed.

I’m curious, though. Do you log a ‘Did Not Find’ on the website if you couldn’t locate it?